Mid 19th Century Warfare: The American Civil War

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Mid 19th Century WarfareThe American Civil War

• 8801, Lesson 6

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Educational Objectives

• To understand the character of the Civil War
• To comprehend
• its linkage to past wars and
• its preview of future wars.

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Fundamental Questions about War

• How are armies formed?
• Why do wars occur?
• Why do armies fight?
• How do armies fight?
• What is the relationship between the armed forces?

• Who directs their employment?
• How are armies sustained?
• How are wars ended?
• How is their period distinctive?
• What non-military factors affected the outcome?

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Characteristics

• Bloodiest war
• A national war
• Improved technology
• Leadership slow to adapt
• Large, unwieldy armies

• Shift to maneuver warfare
• More total in conduct
• A transitional conflict
• Three theaters

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Theaters
Eastern
Western
Trans-Mississippi
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Causes of the War

• The extension of slavery into new lands
• The rise of the abolition movement
• The Kansas-Nebraska Act
• The Dred Scott Decision
• The Election of 1860

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Politics and Policy

• For the Union
• Complete suppression
• Extinction of the CSA
• Political Considerations
• North divided
• Quick victory needed

• For the Confederacy
• Independence
• Preservation of Old South
• Political Considerations
• Territorial integrity
• Foreign recognition
• Hold the West

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Military Tasks

• Union
• Reassert authority
• Create an army
• Offensive operations
• Not war

• CSA
• Create a country, a government, an army
• Defend territory
• Win a victory in North

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Military theories

• Dennis Hart Mahan
• Henry Halleck
• P.G.T. Beauregard
• Jomini

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Strategies

• Winfield Scott
• Irwin McDowell
• George McClellan
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ulysses S. Grant

• Jefferson Davis
• Robert E. Lee

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Strategy and Tactics

• Changed conditions
• Battlefield tactics

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Military Affairs

• Preparedness
• Command Arrangements
• Political generals
• Rank Structure
• Battlefield conditions

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Technology

• The rifled musket
• The telegraph
• The railroad

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Generalship

• Grant
• A fortunate accident
• Working at task
• Concerted coordinated plan

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Interpretations

• Williams and Donald
• Archer Jones
• Joseph L. Harsh

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Issues for consideration

• Causes of the Civil War
• Character of the war
• Theater(s) of war
• Clausewitz and the Length of the War
• Technology

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Causes of the Civil War

• Why do wars occur?
• Why do armies fight?

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Character of the war

• Limited or unlimited war?
• Did its character change?
• Why and how?
• Reflection of 19th Century military institutions?
• Reflection of the American War of War?

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Theaters of war

• Eastern
• Western
• Trans-Mississippi

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Clausewitz and the Civil War

• Why did it take so long
• For the North to win?
• For the South to lose?
• Military problems and
• The trinity?
• Policy and politics?

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Role of Technology

• The war?
• In enhancing the Norths ability?
• In increasing the Norths vulnerability?
• Grants vulnerability at Vicksburg?
• Effect of the rifled musket?

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Issues for consideration

• Causes of the Civil War
• Character of the war
• Theater(s) of war
• Clausewitz and the Length of the War
• Technology

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Next Week

• Later 19th Century Warfare Prussia

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Points to remember

• The Civil War
• Union Strategy
• Living off the land
• Sheridan Sherman
• As view of future wars

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RememberTracers work both ways